Recovery of chylous pulmonary congestion in tuberous sclerosis complex-associated lymphangioleiomyomatosis

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Oct 17:2014:bcr2014205701. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-205701.

Abstract

Chyloptysis and chylous pulmonary congestion are extremely rare complications of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis complex-associated LAM, who presented with expectorating milky-white bronchial casts. She was diagnosed with chyloptysis and chylous pulmonary congestion by sputum analysis. Her symptoms and lung infiltration were improved by oral sirolimus therapy; moreover, serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels paralleled the symptoms and lung infiltration of these complications. We suggest that serum KL-6 may be a useful monitoring biomarker of chyloptysis and chylous pulmonary congestion in LAM.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chyle*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / blood
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / complications*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • Sirolimus